Mortality of burns in Duhok, Iraq

الملخص EN

Background and Objectives The mortality rate following burn is an important outcome parameter.

This study aimed to identify factors associated with mortality in adult hospitalized burn patients in Duhok.

Iraq Methods In a prospective study, 812 burn patients were admitted to the Burns and Plastic surgery Hospital in Duhok-Kurdistan region of Iraq from3rd January 2011 and 30th December 2012.

The age, sex, nationality, cause of burn, extent of injury, cause of death and mortality rates were tabulated and analyzed.

Results 310 (38.2%) were males and 502 (61.8%) were females.

The highest number of cases occurred in January, with the highest short period incidence occurring in April.

Out of 812 patients, 170 patients died.

Burn injuries were more frequent and larger with higher mortality in females than in males.

Flame was the major cause of burns.

Self-inflicted burns were noted mainly in young women.

Conclusion A large number of burn injuries, which affect children and females, occur in the domestic setting and could have been prevented.

Therefore, it is necessary to implement programs for health education relating to prevention of burn injuries focusing on the domestic setting.